Charger and control method thereof

Abstract

A charger and a control method are disclosed. A charger according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a transceiver configured to obtain, from a battery of a cleaner, temperature information of the battery, and a processor configured to apply power to the battery based on the temperature information transmitted from the transceiver, wherein the processor applies a pulse wave of a first period to the battery when the temperature of the battery is measured within a predetermined first section. Accordingly, even if the temperature of the battery is outside the charge allowance range due to the discharge of the battery built in the cleaner, the battery can be charged more quickly, thereby reducing the total time required for charging the battery.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for charging a battery, comprising:
 determining a temperature of the battery when a charger is connected to the battery; and 
 charging the battery based on the temperature of the battery, 
 wherein charging the battery includes:
 applying a series of modulated pulses of a prescribed pulse width and a prescribed pulse repetition interval to the battery when the temperature of the battery is greater than an upper limit of a charge allowable temperature range for the battery and equal to or less than an upper limit of a discharge allowable temperature range for the battery; and 
 applying at least one of a constant current or a constant voltage to the battery when the temperature of the battery is within the charge allowable temperature range, 
 
 wherein the charge allowable temperature is a temperature range in which a probability that an exothermic reaction of a predetermined amount or more occurs in a battery is greater than or equal to a first threshold value as the battery charged, 
 wherein the discharge allowable temperature is a temperature range in which a probability that the exothermic reaction of a predetermined amount or more occurs in a battery is greater than or equal to a second threshold value as a battery is discharged. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pulse repetition interval is 1 second or less. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 changing the pulse repetition interval based on a change in the temperature of the battery. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 changing the pulse width based on a change in the temperature of the battery. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 changing at least one of a current or a voltage of the modulated pulses based on a change in the temperature of the battery. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining the temperature of the battery includes obtaining the temperature of the battery from a sensor in the battery. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is included in a cleaner, and charging the battery is performed when the cleaner is electrically coupled to the charger. 
     
     
       8. A charger, comprising:
 a contact configured to be electrically connected to a battery; and 
 a processor configured to:
 determine a temperature of the battery, and 
 control power applied to the battery via the contact based on the temperature of the battery, 
 wherein the processor causes modulated pulses of a prescribed pulse width and a prescribed pulse repetition interval to be applied to the battery when the temperature of the battery is greater than an upper limit of a charge allowable temperature range for the battery and equal to or less than an upper limit of a discharge allowable temperature range for the battery, and causes at least one of a constant current or a constant voltage to the battery when the temperature of the battery is within the charge allowable temperature range, 
 wherein the charge allowable temperature is a temperature range in which a probability that an exothermic reaction of a predetermined amount or more occurs in a battery is greater than or equal to a first threshold value as the battery is charged, 
 wherein the discharge allowable temperature is a temperature range in which a probability that the exothermic reaction of a predetermined amount or more occurs in a battery is greater to a second threshold value as the battery is discharged. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The charger of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a transceiver configured to obtain, from the battery, sensor information of the battery, wherein the processor determines the temperature of the battery based on the sensor information. 
 
     
     
       10. The charger of  claim 8 , wherein the pulse repetition interval is 1 second or less. 
     
     
       11. The charger of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to change the pulse repetition interval based on a change in the temperature of the battery. 
     
     
       12. The charger of  claim 8  wherein the processor is further configured to change the pulse width based on a change in the temperature of the battery. 
     
     
       13. The charger of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to change at least one of a current or a voltage of the pulses based on a change in the temperature of the battery. 
     
     
       14. The charger of  claim 8 , wherein the battery includes at least one switch electrically connected to the contact, and the processor, when controlling power applied to the battery via the contact, is further to provide a control signal that causes the at least one switch to be selectively activated to form the modulated pulses from power applied via the contact.